Eskom Sabbath

Jan 22, 2017 DLA sabbath

We had a power failure on Thursday morning at the church. Whenever this happens you can hear up to three groans in the office at varying decibel level, depending on how important whatever was happening on the computer was. And how recently the document had been saved... So, we had to manage without being connected, coffee’d or cooled for a couple of hours.

It was tougher on the DLA community who depend on the little aircon units in their classrooms to keep everyone alive in the heat. With no power, we saw numbers of classes taking place under the trees through the morning. All very good-naturedly though and, that aside, they’ve had a really good first week of term. We have all been blown away by the quality of the learners – friendly, polite, helpful and, wonderfully, looking like they’re having a really good time at school. Looking back, I’m sure high school was never this much fun in my day...

But back to the power failure. Invariably when the power goes out for a while, I find myself grateful for the pause – a chance to read and pray and tidy (and practice using a pen again). Sometimes I wonder whether there are angels working undercover at Eskom, who occasionally flick the switches for our benefit. So, on Thursday, while everything was down, Kym and I in a fit of New-years-resolution-exercise-enthusiasm nipped down to Thomson’s Bay to do some lengths in the tidal pool (and boy are those lengths lengthy – I think I saw a lifeguard eyeing me anxiously from the side as I plowed my way back and forth). A power failure, then, can be an unplanned, but life-giving sabbath!

Which begs the question, why on earth do we not plan more sabbath time? Why are we not more intentional about unashamedly making more space to play and pray and exercise and read. Jesus would most certainly approve.

I hope that as you spend part of your sabbath in worship this morning you encounter the Lord of life. May He lead you into life this week.